Toothache : Causes, Prevention and Home Remedies

A toothache,as in Wikipedia, is an aching pain in or around a tooth. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, or gum disease.

The severity of a toothache can range from chronic and mild to sharp and excruciating. The pain may be aggravated by chewing or by cold or heat. Other signs and symptoms that may lead you to seek care include the following:

.Pain with chewing

.Hot or cold sensitivity

.Bleeding or discharge from around a tooth or gums

.Swelling around a tooth or swelling of your jaw

.Injury or trauma to the area


You can prevent the majority of dental problems through flossing, brushing with fluoride toothpaste, and having your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year. The dentist may apply sealants and fluoride, which are especially important in children.

There are several remedies available which may ease a toothache. Following is a brief description of some of the home remedies for toothache.

. Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) may be used.

. Relief may be obtained from biting on a cotton ball soaked in oil of cloves.

. Chewing leaves of guava tree will also provide relief from pain. This is one of the simplest toothache treatment.

. Garlic clove when placed on the aching tooth provides immediate relief from pain.

. Apply a mixture of a pinch of pepper powder and a quarter teaspoon of common salt on the aching tooth as it will give relief.

. Chewing fresh leaves of spinach makes the gums strong and prevents tooth decay.

. The juice of wheat grass is an excellent home remedy for toothache and tooth decay.

. Application of ice pack on the cheeks also reduces pain.

. Pouring few 3-4 drops of vanilla extract on the aching tooth will immediately provide relief and is also good home remedy for toothache.

. Mix a pinch of pepper powder and clove oil and apply on the paining tooth.

. Chewing raw onion for three minutes will kill all the harmful germs in the mouth.

. Intake of sugar should be restricted to prevent any kind of tooth problems.

. Mix mustard oil and turmeric powder and apply on the teeth. It is highly beneficial in curing all the teeth problems. This is one of the best toothache cure.

. Good amount of vitamin C and calcium should be taken to make the teeth strong. It is a good diet for toothache.

. Gargling with hydrogen peroxide after every meal will remove all the germs and bacteria from the teeth and strengthens the teeth.

. In 1 cup of water boil 5 gram of peppermint with a pinch of salt. Drink it for toothache pain relief and other pains.

. One drop of oregano oil on the tongue and rub on the hurting tooth will immediately took away the pain.

. Apply rock salt with the garlic paste on the aching tooth to achieve better results.

It should be noted, though that the remedies mentioned above do provide relief, but they should not ever be accepted as permanent treatment for dental problems. A dental check is strongly recommended when a person experiences a toothache. Home remedies only lower the rate of bacterial growth, or kill the pain causing bacteria but they fail to cure the cavities or infections in the teeth, which are the main cause of pain.


~source:emedicinehealth.com~

Lower Your Cholesterol : How To and Home Remedies

Cholesterol is a fatty molecule that is manufactured by your liver. You need cholesterol in order to help you manufacture certain types of hormones. However, too much cholesterol circulating through the blood can lead to develop some serious health problems.

The body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat. It takes only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs. If a person has too much cholesterol in the bloodstream, the excess may be deposited in arteries, including the coronary arteries of the heart, the carotid arteries to the brain, and the arteries that supply blood to the legs.

The only way to find out if you have high cholesterol is through a cholesterol test. A cholesterol test is a blood test that will look at the key lipids, or fats, that are in the blood, such as:

-LDL
-HDL
-Triglycerides
-Total cholesterol

If you have any of the conditions listed below, you are at risk of having high cholesterol and should get checked if you have not already done so:

-Sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise)
-Poor diet
-Smoking
-Certain medications
-Age (the older you are, the more you are at risk)
-Family history of high cholesterol
-Certain diseases (diabetes, certain thyroid gland conditions)

Lowering your cholesterol reduces your risk of contracting heart disease and dying from a heart attack. Here are several tips and remedies on how to lower your cholesterol.

. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily as it stimulates the excretory activity of the kidneys.

. Onion juice reduces cholesterol level and works as a tonic. It cleans blood, helps digestive system, cures insomnia and regulates the heart action & helps in lowering cholesterol.

. A mudpack applied over the abdomen improves digestion and also improves the functioning of the liver and activates kidneys to promote excretion.

. Soy products or soy compounds known, as isoflavones are the best to regulate the cholesterol levels in the blood. They act as human hormones.

. Sunflower seeds are also highly beneficial in regulating the cholesterol levels and is good herbal remedies for cholesterol.

. Exercise such as swimming, running, and jogging,yoga and walking can also strengthen your heart, bones, and other muscles of the body, in addition to helping you to lose weight.

. Avoid foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats like eggs; organ meats, cheese, butter, beef, whole milk and vegetable oils.

. A rich fiber diet is recommended for the patients with high blood cholesterol levels.

. Diet high in vitamin B6, choline and inositol are also effective in reducing blood cholesterol. Wheat germ and yeasts are the rich sources.

. Don't smoke. Smoking increases your cholesterol.

. Take fish oil for Omega 3. Omega 3 has many health benefits including lowering cholesterol naturally.

. Lecithin is a fatty food substance that is highly beneficial in controlling cholesterol levels. Egg yolk, vegetable oils, whole grain cereals, soybeans and unpasteurized milk are the best sources of lecithin.

. Boil 10 pieces of cinnamon sticks (2.5cm each) in 5 teacups of water and put a tablespoon of honey and drink this when it is hot. This is very effective natural remedy for cholesterol.

. Eating 1 clove garlic a day for 12 weeks helps in reducing cholesterol gradually.

. Take evening primrose oil to lower your cholesterol. Evening primrose oil helps to lower high blood cholesterol.


~sources:ehow.com,cholesterol.about.com~

Hiccups : Causes, How To and Home Remedies

A hiccup or hiccough,as in Wikipedia is a contraction of the diaphragm that repeats several times per minute. In humans, the abrupt rush of air into the lungs causes the vocal cords to close, creating a "hic" sound.

The exact cause of hiccups is not known but some believed causes are:

.Eating too much and too fast
.Sudden excitement
.Hot and spicy foods
.Stomach disorders
.Kidney problems
.Infection in lungs

A bout of hiccups, in general, resolves itself without intervention, although many home remedies claim to shorten the duration. Medical treatment is occasionally necessary in cases of chronic hiccups.Home remedies are generally sufficient to resolve hiccups.

. Place a teaspoon of dry granulated sugar on the back of the tongue and then swallowing it.

. Fill a glass with ice cubes and water, and then drinking it slowly (the rapid change of temperature in the esophagus may shut down the hiccup response).

. Pull the tongue with your fingers.

. Holding the breath will stop the hiccups.

. Eating a spoonful of peanut butter stops hiccups quickly and is one of the effective home remedies for hiccups.

. Gargling with water is also considered effective.

. Make a mixture by adding 2 tsp of common salt in a cup of plain yogurt and eat it slowly. This is very effective home remedy for hiccups.

. Eating a bowl full of yogurt with a pinch of salt is also a good hiccups remedy.

. Boil 1/2 tsp of cardamom fresh powder in 2 cup water, sieve it and drink a glassful of this warm water to stop hiccups.

. Sucking crushed ice provides immediate relief from irritating hiccups.

. Eating a teaspoon of peanut butter will immediately stop the hiccups. It is good diet for hiccups.

. Tickling the throat with a cotton swab is also effective.

. Sucking small piece of ginger will also cure recurring hiccups.

Most cases of hiccups resolve themselves in a short period of time and are rarely a medical emergency. See your doctor if hiccups last more than three hours, or if they disturb your eating or sleeping habits.


~sources:healthscout.com,medicinenet.com~

US Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fat Consumption over the Last Century

Omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) are essential nutrients that play many important roles in the body. They are highly bioactive, and so any deviation from ancestral intake norms should probably be viewed with suspicion. I've expressed my opinion many times on this blog that omega-6 consumption is currently too high due to our high intake of refined seed oils (corn, soybean, sunflower, etc.) in industrial nations. Although it's clear that the quantity of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fat have changed over the last century, no one had ever published a paper that attempted to systematically quantify it until last month (1).

Drs. Chris Ramsden and Joseph Hibbeln worked on this paper (the first author was Dr. Tanya Blasbalg and the senior author was Dr. Robert Rawlings)-- they were the first and second authors of a different review article I reviewed recently (2). Their new paper is a great reference that I'm sure I'll cite many times. I'm going to briefly review it and highlight a few key points.

1. The intake of omega-6 linoleic acid has increased quite a bit since 1909. It would have been roughly 2.3% of calories in 1909, while in 1999 it was 7.2%. That represents an increase of 213%. Linoleic acid is the form of omega-6 that predominates in seed oils.

2. The intake of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid has also increased, for reasons that I'll explain below. It changed from 0.35% of calories to 0.72%, an increase of 109%.

3. The intake of long-chain omega-6 and omega-3 fats have decreased. These are the highly bioactive fats for which linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are precursors. Arachidonic acid, DHA, DPA and EPA intakes have declined. This mostly has to do with changing husbandry practices and the replacement of animal fats with seed oils in the diet.

4. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats has increased. There is still quite a bit of debate over whether the ratios matter, or simply the absolute amount of each. I maintain that there is enough evidence from highly controlled animal studies and the basic biochemistry of PUFAs to tentatively conclude that the ratio is important. At a minimum, we know that excess linoleic acid inhibits omega-3 metabolism (3, 4, 5, 6). The omega-6:3 ratio increased from 5.4:1 to 9.6:1 between 1909 and 2009, a 78% increase.

5. The biggest factor in both linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid intake changes was the astonishing rise in soybean oil consumption. Soybean oil consumption increased from virtually nothing to 7.4% of total calories, eclipsing all sources of calories besides sugar, dairy and grains! That's because processed food is stuffed with it. It's essentially a byproduct of defatted soybean meal-- the second most important animal feed after corn. Check out this graph from the paper:

I think this paper is an important piece of the puzzle as we try to figure out what happened to nutrition and health in the US over the last century.

Sunburn : Causes, Prevention and Home Remedies

A sunburn,as in Wikipedia is a burn to living tissue, such as skin, which is produced by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, commonly from the sun's rays. Usual mild symptoms in humans and animals include red or reddish skin that is hot to the touch, general fatigue, and mild dizziness. An excess of UV radiation can be life-threatening in extreme cases.

Sunburn usually appears within a few hours after sun exposure and may take from several days to several weeks to fade. Intense sun exposure that results in sunburn increases your risk of certain complications and related skin diseases. These include dry, wrinkled skin; liver spots; actinic keratoses; and skin cancer, including melanoma.

You can prevent sunburn and the related skin conditions by protecting your skin whenever you're outdoors, even on cloudy days. If you do get sunburn, several home remedies and treatments can relieve your pain and speed the healing of your skin.

. Before going out in sun it�s always better to apply sunscreen lotion to prevent tanning and sunburns.

. Lotions containing lanolin should be avoided before going out in sun.

. Applying lavender essential oil to the area will reduce pain and itching.

. Application of any cream containing vitamin E to the affected areas will reduce itching. This is a very simple sunburn treatment.

. Applying ice to the area will also be beneficial

. Keeping cold tea bags on the area will remove tanning from the sunburns.

. Drink plenty of fluids. Sun exposure and heat can cause fluid loss through your skin. Be sure to replenish those fluids to prevent dehydration.

. Milk is the best food remedy for any kind of burns. Applying the cloth to the burn dipped in milk will provide relief. Good home remedy for sunburn.

. Make a mixture by mixing, yogurt, turmeric and barley, apply on the affected area. This is one of the simple and good home remedies for sunburn.

. Sliced pieces of raw cucumber or potato when applied to the affected area reduce inflammation of the skin. This is one of the best sunburn remedy.

. Pouring one cup of white cider vinegar to the bathtub will provide relief from sunburns.

. Application of sandal wood paste to the area will provide relief from the burning sensation.

. Taking a bath of tide laundry detergent will provide relief from sunburn blisters.

. Make a mixture of one part tomato juice and 6 parts buttermilk and apply it to the affected areas and wash it after 30 minutes.

. Apply a mixture of one part olive oil and one part vinegar to affected areas and wash it after an hour.

. Make a mixture of wheat flour mixed with milk, olive oil, or barley flour, honey, and raw egg white paste. It will be a best facial for sunburn skin.

. Boil some lettuce in water, allow the liquid to cool and strain it. Then apply to the affected area with cotton balls.

. If blisters form, don't break them. They contain your natural body fluid (serum) and are a protective layer.

Use these methods to prevent sunburn:

. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Because the sun's rays are strongest during these hours, try to schedule outdoor activities for other times of the day. Seek shade whenever possible.

. Wear tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs, and a broad-brimmed hat, which provides more protection than does a baseball cap or golf visor. Also consider wearing clothing or outdoor gear specially designed to provide sun protection.

. Use sunscreen frequently and liberally. Apply sunscreen liberally 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply about every two hours � sooner if it's washed away by perspiration or water.

. Wear sunglasses when outdoors. Look for a manufacturer's label that says the sunglasses block 99 percent or 100 percent of all UV light.


~source:mayoclinic.com~

Mouth Ulcer : Causes, Prevention and Home Remedies

As in Wikipedia,a mouth ulcer,or oral ulcer, or, in American English, canker sore is an open sore inside the mouth, or rarely a break in the mucous membrane or the epithelium on the lips or surrounding the mouth.

Once formed, the ulcer may be maintained by inflammation and/or secondary infection. Two common types of ulcer are aphthous ulcers ("canker sores") and cold sores (fever blisters, oral herpes). Cold sores around the lip are caused by viruses.

The various causes of mouth ulcers are:

.High intake of spicy or acidic food
.Lack of vitamin B2 in the diet
.Minor injuries
.Viral infections
.Poor dental hygiene
.Bowel disease
.Biting of cheeks or lips
.Food allergies
.Hormonal imbalance

Good oral hygiene may help prevent some types of mouth ulcers, as well as some complications from mouth ulcers. Good oral hygiene includes brushing the teeth at least twice per day, flossing at least daily, and getting regular professional dental cleanings and examinations.

Home remedies are the best and easiest way to cure mouth ulcers that to without any side effects. Some of the effective home remedies which can cure your painful mouth ulcers are:

. Most effective home remedy for mouth ulcer is to chew few holy basil leaves with water twice in a day. This not only treats your ulcers but also prevents bad smell.

. Gargle at least 3-4 times in a day with fresh coconut milk.

. Alternately gargle with cold and hot water.

. Eat lot of raw salad especially raw onions. Onion contains lot of sulfur and it is effective in treating mouth ulcers.

. Drink lot of orange juice as deficiency of Vitamin C can lead to mouth ulcer.

. Eat lot of yogurt, buttermilk and cottage cheese.

. Mix small amount of sodium bicarbonate with water and use this solution as mouth rinse.

. Avoid eating spicy food especially meat, fish or any type of animal protein.

. Avoid eating sharp edged food like dry bread or potato chips. Also avoid lozenges, chewing gums, coffee, tobacco and any food which you think can trigger ulcer formation.

. Apply peppermint oil on the ulcers; this will relieve you from the irritation and pain.

. Thrice a day gently massage your affected gums with honey and coconut milk mixture.

. Until your mouth ulcers are cured make it a point to eat curd and banana daily in morning.

. Apply paste of honey and 1 tsp of powdered root bark of Indian Gooseberry on the affected area.

. Mulberry juice is highly beneficial in treating mouth ulcers.

. Take 1 tsp of coriander seeds in 1 cup of water and boil to make slightly warm. Gargle 3-4 times a day. This is also effective home remedy for mouth ulcers.

. Gargling daily with Listerine prevents bad smell from the mouth and also mouth ulcers cures.

. Application of any toothpaste on the area many times a day gives quick relief from mouth ulcers.

. Daily intake of tomatoes juice is also beneficial for the mouth ulcers treatment.

Even after following these simple home remedies your mouth ulcers are not cured then it is advisable to visit your physician immediately.


~source:homeremedies.ygoy.com~

Stretch Marks : Causes, How To and Home Remedies

Stretch marks or striae (singular stria), as in Wikipedia, are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. They are caused by tearing of the dermis, and over time can diminish but not disappear completely.

Stretch marks first appear as reddish or purple lines, but tend to gradually fade to a lighter range. The affected areas appear empty and are soft to the touch. Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, but are most likely to appear in places where larger amounts of fat are stored. Most common places are the abdomen, breasts, upper arms, underarms, back, thighs (both inner and outer), hips, and buttocks.

The various causes of stretch marks are:

.Pregnancy
.Gain in weight or weight loss
.Rapid growth especially in adolescents
.Change in physical conditions

Once the stretch mark develop they will stay with you forever; but with time they will be less noticeable. The only way to avoid stretch marks is preventing them. There are also several remedies for those who have stretch marks.

. Make sure in your diet you are getting plenty of protein and foods rich in Vitamin C and Vitamin E, they promote good tissue growth.

. Massaging your body with olive oil or Vitamin E may help.

. It is very important to exercise in order to get rid of stretch marks; toning your muscles helps your skin to firm thus preventing stretch marks.

. Apply cocoa butter and/ or elastin cream though out the body as directed on label. These are very good for stretch marks.

. Application of vitamin K cream is also beneficial in the stretch marks treatment. The foods containing vitamin K can also be included in the diet and they are green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, liver and dairy products.

. Application of Aloe Vera gel also helps to cure stretch marks and is also good home remedy for stretch marks.

. Applying lavender oil on the marks thrice a day will fade up the marks soon. This is one of the simple and good home remedies for stretch marks.

. Application of Vaseline intensive care lotion on the stomach during pregnancy helps in the prevention of stretch marks.

. Rubbing the area with apricot scrub fades the marks in a short duration. This is also good home remedy for stretch marks.

. Mix one ounce of carrier oil ( try avocado, sweet almond, jojoba, they are the best ) with seven drops of lavender and five drops of chamomile.Apply this on the affected areas.


~Source:homemademedicine.com~